Sports

Lady Mustangs knock out Bulldogs in season opener

Cierra Ruppel sinks a free throw for the Mustangs during their win over University in their home season opener.
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The Fort Morgan Lady Mustangs varsity basketball team hosted the University Bulldogs in their home opener and first game of the season on Friday Nov. 30 with a 46-35.

The first period remained pointless until Lauren Staley sank two free throws for the Mustangs.

University then answered with a three-pointer making 3-2. Allie Schneider then hit two more free throws taking back the lead 4-3.

The game stayed within a point either way until the Mustangs took a 8-5 lead with nothing but free throws for the Mustangs as they sank them at 100 percent at this point in the period.

Alexis Bills shot the first points from the floor, popping a three-pointer for a 10-5 Mustang lead.

Alexis Bills plays keep away from a University defender during their blow win over the Bulldogs Friday Nov. 30th.
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University answered with a couple of baskets of their own bringing the game back to only a couple of points, but never caught the lead again, ending the first period with the Mustangs up 12-11.

At the start of the second period Ciera Ruppel hit a basket with an assist from Schneider. University caught up for the lead with one point over the Mustangs at 15-14.

Schneider sank a basket to get the lead back for the Mustangs, but the Bulldogs answered again for the lead.

Devynn Lapp absorbed a foul from University and was injured on the play, and Bills stepped in to substitute and sank in two free throws bringing the Mustangs to a one-point lead again at 18-17.

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The score balanced back and forth much like in the first period by one point, basket for basket, then Bills picked up another basket to bring the Mustangs just a point short of a tie and basket short of the lead at 21-20. It was deadlocked for the remaining minute of the half with some tough and aggressive defense from sides, and the final ended with a 21-20 score with University with the lead.

Samantha Pettyjohn opened the second half with a basket for Morgan.

Schneider had a goal nearly immediately after jumping up Morgan's lead to a more comfortable level than the one point exchange at 24-21, followed by a layup from Danielle Gross to make it 26-21.

University then went on a three-point basket streak, adding six points to bring the score up to 28-27, one point behind the lead. The Bulldogs then picked up a free throw to tie it at 28-28.

Ruppel picked up another free throw for Morgan regaining the lead back 29-28. Despite University picking up another three pointer two baskets and a free throw from Schneider closed out the period with 34-31 lead for the Lady Mustangs.

The fourth period Staley picked up another basket after two minutes of play, making Morgan the point openers for each period in the game.

Bills picked up another basket 30 seconds later making it 36-32 as Morgan's lead started to slowly take off. Two minutes of play later University had picked up a couple of points, but the Mustangs maintained their lead down till the last two minutes, and then they took off. Pettyjohn picked up two free throws, Celia Smitts sank her first basket of the game and Bills put in a layup, bringing the score to a 46-35 final.

"We did a lot of good things; it's always good to come out and that win under our belts. Other than the injury to a starter we had a lot of positive," said head coach Jim Kreikemeier. "We knew that Sofia (University) would be tough. We expected her to be a force. She had 15 in the first half but we were able to keep her to five in the second half so that was a big positive. We had a lot of defensive rebounds, and everyone doing their part in the second half, that was key. We were 12 for 14 on free throws and balanced through on baskets," said Kreikemeier.

The Lady Mustangs will be playing Platte Valley Tuesday at Eaton in a round robin.

"We will continue to work on the things we have been working on and getting a couple of girls to step up to cover injuries," said Kreikemeier.

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